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Summer Stress In St. George, Utah Is Real
It’s summer in St. George, UT, and it’s hot. It’s one thing to know the heat affects us, but it’s entirely different to give ourselves space and grace because of it. Perhaps you’ve noticed you are more easily overwhelmed, snappier with loved ones, and less motivated to work on your to-do list, especially if it involves being outside or even leaving the house.
Many of us know the heat affects us in these ways, but we secretly believe it shouldn’t because we’re adults, right? Yet, it does affect us. As adults, the most mature thing to do is to face that reality and work with it instead of denying it. Let’s lean into the fact that in the heat of the summer, we lose some of our ability to cope, and our self-care strategies shift.
Now, let’s find some ways to manage that grievous, lousy, pitiful heat. Our therapists offer three easy tips to manage your mood and emotional health while the Southern Utah temperatures peak. Let’s get started!
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Take A Therapy Moment: Look At Your Values This Summer
One of the first things you can do to reduce summer stress in St. George, UT, is to take a moment to refocus on your values. I know focusing on our values may feel a little broad, but remembering why we are doing what we are doing can be helpful.
Focusing on why you are doing what you are doing reminds you that the effort is worth it. We’re not saying it isn’t hard or unpleasant; we’re just saying that all that difficulty and unpleasantness is worth it because you get to live a life according to your values and vision.
Also, considering why you are doing what you are doing provides an opportunity to consider if there is another way to meet your values. Perhaps a simpler way. This isn’t cheating; it’s an accommodation due to the summer heat and summer stress of Southern Utah.
For example, maybe you run outside several days a week because it is good for your health to move your body. But if it’s just too hot, it’s okay to run inside on a treadmill to move your body. Or perhaps you reevaluate your actions and decide it’s worth it to get a membership at a gym during the summer months so you can do cardio inside.
Therapist Insight: Reduce Screen Time In The Summer
A little bit of screen time is a great way to check out and back off the intensity of life for a bit. It can feel good in the moment to avoid the difficulties of life. It can feel relaxing to let your brain go and do nothing but be entertained. That’s all true, and like dessert, screens can be great in small doses.
But a lot of screen time increases our stress. When we stay on too long, like the heat of the Southern Utah desert, it can cause more harm than good. When screens become the first and only way we relax, it’s time to explore other ways to reduce stress. Consider ways to get outside (or at least out of the house) while creatively avoiding the heat.
Yes, even though summer is intense here, we still need to get outside. The sunshine, fresh air, and connection to nature really do our bodies, minds, and souls good.
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St. George, UT Therapist Shares Mindset Tips For Summer Heat
Guided Wellness Counseling owner and licensed therapist, Melissa Spaulding, is not a native of Southern Utah. Like many of you, the St. George summer heat came as quite a shock. Even after eight years, she still struggles when the temperatures get over 100 degrees. But two years ago, she decided to do something about it—change her mindset.
We all make assumptions, sometimes unconsciously, that hold us back. Melissa, despite being a therapist, has this same human tendency. Here are a few assumptions she made during the summer months and how she shook things up:
- Assumption #1: I am stuck with this heat.
- Correction**: Melissa realized she was not stuck in St. George. On the weekends, she had the resources and time to get out of town. Trips to Cedar City, Pine Valley, Navajo Lake, and Brian Head all offered a welcome reprieve from soaring temperatures. She made it a point to start planning two mini-road trips a month to these slightly cooler destinations. She also began to plan longer trips at the end of summer that she could look forward to.
- Assumption #2: Summer is for outdoor adventures.
- Correction**: Being from upstate New York, Melissa was conditioned to think that summer was the ideal time to go outside. In upstate New York, it is! But one day, Melissa had an epiphany—she would start to treat her St. George summers like New York winters, where the snow and blizzards require you to stay safely indoors. She released the fantasy that summers would be full of outdoor adventure. Instead, she decided it would be perfectly acceptable during Southern Utah summer months to ‘snuggle up’ to the AC and have days when she only went outside as necessary.
- Assumption #3: I hate this damn heat!
- Correction: Melissa decided to use a therapy skill called “radical acceptance.” She’d practiced this before while attending a heated vinyasa yoga class at Be Hot Yoga in St. George, UT. She recalls how the yoga studio was uncomfortably hot during her first few visits but she’d discovered it was better not fight it. Instead she focused on taking deep breaths and relaxing her body as she waited for class to begin.. Similarly, when Melissa now experiences the Southern Utah heat she imagines herself leaning into the heat and uses gentle imagery like melting butter (versus a frying egg or scorching sun) to reduce her distress.
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St. George, UT Summers Are Great For Therapy
At Guided Wellness Counseling, we think summer is a great time to start therapy. We know there can be challenges in the summer that make people pump the brakes: vacation, changes to childcare, seasonal work demands, etc. But the truth is, summertime can also reduce your access to certain self-care practices and resources. This can lead you to feel depleted, overwhelmed, and, dare we say it, moody. In other words, this might be exactly the right time for you to book an appointment and get the support you need and deserve.
Therapy provides an opportunity to talk to someone who can support you in the truth of your difficulties. They can collaborate with you on how to manage them. Here are just a few reasons women have started therapy this summer at our St. George, UT, office:
- Parenting stress and overwhelm
- Separation / Divorce
- Infertility and pregnancy challenges
- Anxiety
- Life transitions
- Childhood trauma
- And so much more!
Therapy is so good for us. Therapy helps us identify, acknowledge, and have compassion for our difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. But it doesn’t end there. It’s more than just a good vent session. Therapy can also help us figure out how to manage or solve our situations with terms that are acceptable to our reality. We’re not just sitting in the corner hugging our inner child. The real goal is for ourselves (and our inner child or ‘parts’) to come out of the corner and into a solution. How empowering is that!?
Start Therapy This Summer In St. George, UT | 84790 | 84770 | 84780
Taking the first step toward effective self-care and stress management can feel daunting, but it is a powerful move toward a healthier, more balanced life. Whether you’re struggling with the intense summer heat or simply looking to improve your overall well-being, the right support can make all the difference. In St. George, UT, our team of dedicated therapists is here to help you navigate this journey with compassion and expertise.
If you’re on the fence about starting therapy, we encourage you to take advantage of our complimentary phone consultation. This is an opportunity to get clear on your goals for self-care and stress management, ask any questions you may have, and be matched with a therapist who is perfectly suited to your needs.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https://guidedwellnesscounselingut.com/contact/” button_text=”GET YOUR FREE CONSULTATION” button_alignment=”center” admin_label=”LEARN MORE ABOUT THERAPY IN ST. GEORGE, UT” module_class=”postButton” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#35736F” button_font=”|||on|||||” custom_margin=”20px||20px||true|false” custom_margin_tablet=”20px||20px||true|false” custom_margin_phone=”20px||20px||true|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” button_text_size_tablet=”14px” button_text_size_phone=”8px” button_text_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Reach out today and take that important first step toward a healthier, happier you, even in the heat of the Southern Utah summer.
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